With American cycling legend Lance Armstrong making a comeback to competitive cycling, we thought it might be a laugh to list the legends who would not be making a comeback anytime soon...

Mike Tyson:

'Iron' Mike Tyson has made a couple of comeback already, some more successful than others, but we reckon he is done with his time in the ring. Truth be told he is probably one of the few in this list who would actually consider making — yet another — comeback, but we doubt he would be given a licence to compete...

George Foreman:

Already the veteran of one successful comeback — and he made a mint off it too! But the big man seems happy enough flogging his cooking equipment — we own one ourselves and it works a treat — and we simply can't see him having the time (what with all those kids) to get back in the ring. He would, however, add some much needed character to the current crop of heavyweights doing the rounds, but alas we just can't see it happening.

Boris Becker:

We were always fans of the beefy ginger German, but we very much doubt he would consider a comeback even if he was battling financially a couple of years back. The German star is not exactly going to turn his back on a deal where he is paid to answer 300 messages a year (sms queries and trivia) and his new day-job as a professional poker player is he?

Ian Botham:

He is the man who every English all-rounder has been compared to since he retired and trust us, there have been plenty. Before Andrew Flintoff came good, they came and went at an alarming rate for England... Some might feel 'Beefy' could find a place in the team, particularly with Flintoff's penchant for falling off the rails every now and then, but we doubt Sir Botham will be pulling on the whites in favour of the shirt and ties in an air-conditioned commentary box.

Penny Heyns:

South Africa's most successful Olympic swimmer is keeping pretty busy at the moment as a motivational speaker, and despite our poor form in the pool at Beijing, don't expect the breaststroke supremo to be slipping into a cozzie anytime soon. Why would you want to spend arduous hours in the pool when you can convince people how swimming relates to their lives?

Diego Maradona:

If he ever did make a comeback you just know if would make the headlines across every sports page on the planet! Sure, it would probably be for all the wrong reasons, but Maradona knows how to entertain us — on and off the pitch. But sadly we can't imagine the Argentine showman ever gracing the pitch again... we just don't think his already fragile body could handle it.

Naas Botha:

We have been searching for the next Naas Botha since the original retired! Joel Stransky, Butch James, Louis Koen, Derick Hougaard, André Pretorius, Braam van Straaten, Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Brent Russell, Gaffie du Toit; hell we could be here for a long time naming them all. But there's only one Naas — the original Liefling of Loftus! Pity, then that we would never be able to talk him out of retirement. But then with TV presenting and golf developments he has quite a bit on his plate already...

Garth Wright:

If the diminutive commentator is to be believed, he is possibly the greatest player ever to play the game. Seriously, this guy could be talking about anybody, and we mean anybody, and he would still manage to find a link to his playing days. We reckon he might actually take up the offer if given the chance, so perhaps we should stop right there...

Jomo Sono:

Okay, he could actually still make a comeback as Bafana coach, what with the way things are going for poor old Joel Santana at the moment. Jomo has long been 'Plan B' or the quick-fix option, but will Safa turn to him in their hour of need once more? Jeez, we really hope not, although life in the Mvela League must be pretty boring these days...

Kepler Wessels:

Kepler is certainly keeping fit enough to make a comeback. The former opening batsman — and boxer — would be even money in a footrace with Messrs Smith and Kallis, while he would probably even give AB a run for his money. He is technically sounds, has bucketloads of experience, knows the English and Australian conditions... erm, does anybody have his number handy? Maybe he could also get his son, Riki, back from England (where he plays for Northamptonshire as a 'keeper/batsman) and form a father/son combination for the Proteas?

Is there anybody else out there not likely to make a sporting comeback? Let us know below!


RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook